Love and Respect

A special lunch-for-two was organised by a care home in Hollesley for resident Andy Musgrove and his wife Miriam, as the couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.

On Thursday, the team at Glebe House Residential Care Home, where Andy became a resident at the beginning of March, helped the couple mark their 60 years of marriage.

Glebe House is a 20-bed residential care home located near Woodbridge.

With support from care home manager Dawn Barnes, activities coordinator Sophie Smith organised a private dining experience for the couple.

“We invited Miriam to join Andy for lunch and decorated the conservatory with a banner, balloons, and flowers to make it extra special. The kitchen team baked and decorated a fabulous cake for the occasion,” said Sophie Smith.

“They are such a lovely couple and it’s wonderful to see how devoted they are to each other after six decades together. Glebe House is Andy’s home now, so we make sure there are no barriers to him and Miriam having quality time together. It can be a difficult transition for a couple to adjust to not living together, and we support them in any way we can.”

Andy has been familiar with Glebe House, having attended day care there since June last year, making his transition smoother when he moved in.

Miriam, a regular visitor, spends quality time with Andy, sharing meals, enjoying the garden, and participating in activities. Andy, who loves classical music, often listens to it during meals, as it reminds him of home and has a calming effect.

Andy, aged 82, a former mechanic, met Miriam in 1962 when she visited a church in Colchester where he attended with friends.

Reflecting on their wedding photo and opening their anniversary card from the King and Queen, Miriam shared memories from their early days together:

“After we met for the very first time, Andy told his friends that he would marry me one day,” Miriam recalled with a smile.

“I lived in London at the time and travelling between there and Colchester was difficult, so 18 months later we got married and settled in Harwich.”

When asked about the key to their long and happy marriage, Miriam simply replied:

“Love and respect. As long as your marriage has those two things, then it will be a happy one.”

Miriam still lives in their home in Woodbridge. They have two children, Linsey and Adrian, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

The couple was delighted by the team’s efforts to make their diamond wedding anniversary a memorable day.

“The afternoon was wonderful,” said Miriam. “It would have been our first time not celebrating our anniversary together, but Sophie and the team made sure we got to spend it together.”